Telecom Users To Benefit From Stronger Networks, Fairer Services In 2026 – NCC Boss Aminu Maida

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has pledged significant improvements in service delivery for telecom consumers across Nigeria in 2026. The announcement forms part of the commission’s agenda to enhance network quality, customer experience, and industry sustainability.

Speaking in his New Year message, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the focus this year will be on providing a better everyday experience for telecom users while ensuring that operators remain commercially viable.

“The communications sector is an essential service connecting families, supporting businesses, enabling education and healthcare, and powering the digital economy,” Dr. Maida said. “Balancing consumer satisfaction with operator sustainability is key. When this balance is achieved, trust is built, investment flows, and more Nigerians can participate meaningfully in the digital economy.”

Reflecting on 2025, the NCC reported that over 2,800 new and upgraded sites were deployed nationwide, broadband subscriptions rose from 96.3 million to 109.6 million, and 4G coverage reached 85 percent of the population while 5G expanded to 13 percent. Median mobile download speeds on 4G improved by 24 percent, and average speeds increased by 18 percent. These achievements were supported by Project BRIDGE, a federal initiative targeting 90,000 kilometers of fibre deployment.

However, Dr. Maida acknowledged that challenges persist, including inconsistent service quality in certain areas, congestion in busy locations, infrastructure outages, slow complaint resolution, rising operating costs, energy constraints, right-of-way challenges, and vandalism of telecom facilities.

To address these issues, the NCC plans to intensify quality-of-service monitoring, strengthen incident reporting, and implement practical measures to improve network availability and performance. Consumers can expect enhanced tariff transparency, billing accuracy, and customer care standards, along with protection against misleading practices. The commission also aims to promote fair competition, prevent anti-competitive conduct, operationalize a revised Corporate Governance Code, expand cybersecurity frameworks, and strengthen the Internet Code of Practice.

Dr. Maida highlighted ongoing collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure refunds for failed airtime and data transactions, engagement with the Office of the National Security Adviser and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect critical infrastructure, and partnerships with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to ease deployment challenges at state and local levels.

In conclusion, Dr. Maida thanked consumers for their patience and feedback, commending operators and industry workers for their dedication. “Our expectation this year is clear: measurable improvement in consumer experience. Stronger networks, clearer communication, better customer care, and stricter compliance. Together, we will build a communications ecosystem where businesses can grow and Nigerians can thrive,” he said.